Do you guys care about civilians?

[XgamesCop]

Hey guys. Lately, this job's been burning me out. I'm in the process of trying to resign. But I guess one of the main reasons is because lately I have been caring less and less about regular civilians. I'm just too insensitive now. If I go to a domestic dispute, I don't care. I get there, I don't care who's fault. Just gimme your name, Dob, address and telephone numbers for the computer update. I go to a traffic accident it's the same thing. Sexual assault, I don't care. Only where children are involved will I have a soft spot. I don't even care about the exciting action I used to get dispatched to. Right now this job's just a paycheck for me.
I know I might get beat up for this thread, but oh well. Any of you feel me?

[sparrow803]

I'm not a cop, but everyone at some time gets burned out on their job, baker, nurses, doctors, lawyers - well bout everyone. What scares me is people's safety is in your hands, if I need a cop to respond to a domestic where I'm getting the snot beat out of me or I've just been raped. I would sure as hell want someone who gave a **** about it! Get some counseling or take a vacation and reevaluate what you want.

Just my two cents as a civvie.

[Norm357]

I am sorry you are getting burned out. Maybe a vacation is in order? Unless you are an MP you are a civilian too:D . I suggest two weeks is Florida.

Norm

[K9Cop]

Sure I care about "civilians" - I definitely don't do this job for the pay. But there have been a few times that I felt burned out, and I would just go through the motions as you mentioned - at least until my vacation/leave was approved. As Norm suggested, you need to take a vacation and get away from it all - it has worked wonders for me. On the flip side - My last burnout was brought on by the frustrations of working for a Chief who was dirty (no, I'm not talking about his hygiene habits) and a few officers in that same department that did not know the meaning of integrity, I stayed as long as I did BECAUSE I cared about the citizens. I have since resigned from that department and actually contemplated giving up working in law enforcement altogether. A few concerned citizens and fellow L.E. Officers from county/state who spoke with me, as well as my family members convinced me to rethink my decision. I'm glad I did - I now have the pleasure of working with a Chief that I admire, officers that want to do the job and citizens who appreciate our effort.

Good Luck......if you can't take a vacation for some reason - please talk to someone.

[HK45cal]

I at this point Im worried with your safety, dont get lax brother they have gotten too many of us already

[Stump]

XGames,
I understand. I am going through that right now. I've done a few things to combat this issue.
1) talk to somone else in LE. You may need to find someone not related to your dept. I've talked to someone on another board that really has helped me gain perspective about my job.
2) Vacation. I surrounded myself with the kids, and totally forgot about work and my job for a few days.
3) This is working for me (I am having burn-out about the political crap though)... I just put on a fake smile. I pretend to play the game and with the citizens, I put on a sickening sweet, caring face. Eventually, I realized that it was easier and less stressful for me to be happy than to be burnt out.... I am getting back to my old self little by little and the fake attitude is becoming more and more real.
4) Take it day by day. Set goals. Ok, one call today I am going to treat this person like my Mom/Wife/Sister/Daughter. Then 2 calls a day, then...
5) Change your routine. Don't do the same ole, same ole. Go to a different donut shop on breaks (;) ), do different things after work than what you normally would do. Get laid (more often).

If you want to vent in PM, I'm here. I know from experience how much it helps to vent and get out all those ugly feelings.

[Nminx]

Give us some background on yourself. How long you have been in the job, size of your department, etc. Might be able to help you give some more accurate advice...

[mcsap]

My experience with burnout is that you need to CHANGE something as far ayour job is related. It could be a vacation but then you ar eback to the same old same old.

I am thinking more along the line of change your duties. Is there a possibility to move to another division, squad, barracks, patrol area, det's, K-9, SRO, Community Policing ? etc. You need a change of responsibilities. Doing the same ( domestics, crashes, dead bodies, neihghbor disputes ) over and over again is just about enough to drive one up a wall.

I got on SWAT when I first started , then went into FTO when we disbanded our SWAT, then got into Motor Carrier Inspections ( DOT) , then got promoted and finally got promoted again. I have always liked to have some area that interested me and when that door closed, I went looking for another. Don't expect the solution to come knocking on your door, go do a little knocking yourself.

Don't get too mundane with things, especially officer safety issues. People can sense when you are not being genuine and may try to take advantage of your lack of interest or concern.

I think starting off wjith some vacation is an EXCELLENT idea. Get away from the job. No scanners, no cop shows on TV. Become a civilian with few cares for a week or two.

[christrue]

What is with the 'robotic like' citizens out there these days?????

Where is their sense of Integrity?

They're more affluent than I; maybe they think they can
get away with everything It's all in your point of view


christrue

[XgamesCop]

Originally posted by HK45cal
I at this point Im worried with your safety, dont get lax brother they have gotten too many of us already

Thanks for the concern. I'll be ok.

[XgamesCop]

Originally posted by Nminx
Give us some background on yourself. How long you have been in the job, size of your department, etc. Might be able to help you give some more accurate advice...

i'm 26 years old from Bermuda. i've been a police officer 3 years coming september + 1 year as a police reserve before that. there are 400 police officers for an island population of 62,000.

[XgamesCop]

Originally posted by mcsap
My experience with burnout is that you need to CHANGE something as far ayour job is related. It could be a vacation but then you ar eback to the same old same old.

I am thinking more along the line of change your duties. Is there a possibility to move to another division, squad, barracks, patrol area, det's, K-9, SRO, Community Policing ? etc. You need a change of responsibilities. Doing the same ( domestics, crashes, dead bodies, neihghbor disputes ) over and over again is just about enough to drive one up a wall.

I got on SWAT when I first started , then went into FTO when we disbanded our SWAT, then got into Motor Carrier Inspections ( DOT) , then got promoted and finally got promoted again. I have always liked to have some area that interested me and when that door closed, I went looking for another. Don't expect the solution to come knocking on your door, go do a little knocking yourself.

I think starting off wjith some vacation is an EXCELLENT idea. Get away from the job. No scanners, no cop shows on TV. Become a civilian with few cares for a week or two.

.

Hmm.. Vacation. Then do a little knocking myself. That's not a bad idea. I'll try it. Thanks for your advice. I feel a little better.

[XgamesCop]

Thank you for all the advice guys. I guess I'll stick it out for awhile and talk to someone about my feelings.
A vacation's definately in order. The advice you've given me has made it a little more tolerable.The other reason I forgot to put out was that was that i deal with everybody else's problems but my own. I was thinking about going back to school and had family problems. Plus, I'd like to be an entreprenuer someday. But listening to your advice has put things into a more better perspective. Thanks guys.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Originally posted by XgamesCop
Hey guys. Lately, this job's been burning me out. I'm in the process of trying to resign. But I guess one of the main reasons is because lately I have been caring less and less about regular civilians. I'm just too insensitive now. If I go to a domestic dispute, I don't care. I get there, I don't care who's fault. Just gimme your name, Dob, address and telephone numbers for the computer update. I go to a traffic accident it's the same thing. Sexual assault, I don't care. Only where children are involved will I have a soft spot. I don't even care about the exciting action I used to get dispatched to. Right now this job's just a paycheck for me.

I hear ya man it's tough sounds like you need a vacation, hey i have the same problem, 12 hours hifts twice a week one morning, one night, and one weekend shift every 2 weeks, it's tough, the daily grind here is slow but when we get a call, the excitment comes back and you just burn out, means it is a time for a break, cause if you don't care your not doing your job in my line. Thats a sign for a break, the paycheck sucks for me i do it because I LOVE THE JOB that easy but you need a break once and a while. hang tough... By the way Miane is nice this time of year come on over

[P01IC3M4N]

i go in and out of that phase. i'm in school so that's kind of gotten me out of that burnout phase. i now have focus and a goal to attain.

i used to get so pi$$ed that i was ready to walk out. the feeling comes and goes. i'm also pretty insensitive. that was on one of my evaluations once. i'm not an a-hole, i just don't really have a lot of sympathy for people in general. that's not to say it makes me less of an officer, i just don't get emotionally involved in anything. i used to feel bad writing people tickets, but now it doesn't bother me in the least.

what also works for me is to get a good officer initiated felony arrest. you've got to go back and find something that reminds you why you pursued this line of work. one day i was ready to quit so i found this doper to mess with. when he set his trash out, i pulled up while he was still standing on his porch, put it in my trunk, then drove off. i went around the block and gave it to the garbage crew. his bewilderment and the amount of paranoia instilled in that guy satisfied me enough to get back into making it fun again.